Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits to be Inaugurated as Rosh Yeshiva of Aish HaTorah

The leadership torch is passed to a beloved teacher, Torah scholar – and Aish insider.

Around the world, millions have been impacted by Aish HaTorah, an innovator in Jewish outreach.

At the heart of Aish HaTorah is its yeshiva (academy of advanced Torah study) overlooking the Western Wall. In 1974, Rabbi Noah Weinberg zt”l founded Aish HaTorah and as its visionary Rosh Yeshiva (Dean) set the organization’s spiritual, educational, and philosophical direction.

In recent years, this position has gone unoccupied, leaving a large void. In the search for a new Rosh Yeshiva, one candidate – an “Aish insider” – stood out.

Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits had previously been Menahel Ruchani (spiritual guide) at Aish HaTorah from 1983-2001, where he ran a highly-regarded educational program – empowering baalei teshuva (returnees to Torah observance) to move from learning Aleph-Bet all the way to rabbinic ordination.

Rabbi Berkovits became a personal mentor to hundreds of Aish students who now hold Jewish leadership positions worldwide. Indeed, many of Rabbi Weinberg’s closest students were the greatest proponents of Rabbi Berkovits’ return.

With great pride, Aish HaTorah announces the forthcoming inauguration of Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits as its new Rosh Yeshiva.

The Event

The festive inauguration weekend begins on August 30 with a Shabbat dinner at the Dan Family Aish World Center, overlooking the Western Wall.

On Sunday, September 1, dignitaries and rabbis from around the world will gather at the Aish World Center for the inauguration ceremony. This once-in-a-lifetime event, from 3:00 – 5:30 pm, is open to the public.

This will be followed by a celebratory banquet, from 5:30 – 8:00 pm, by reservation only.

Stage One

Rabbi Berkovits charted a fascinating path to this milestone. He was raised in Brooklyn, the child of Holocaust survivors who’d lost their families in Auschwitz. His mother, Chana, a factory manager, taught him the importance of reaching out to all Jews. “Growing up, God was always part of our family,” Rabbi Berkovits says. “My mother spoke about God incessantly. Outside the home, she’d speak openly about her Jewish faith, and influenced many people to come closer to their Jewish roots.”

Fast forward to 1983, with Rabbi Berkovits delving deep into Torah studies at the Mir Yeshiva in Jerusalem. One day, he received a call from Rebbetzin Dinah Weinberg, Rabbi Weinberg’s wife, drafting him to teach at her school, EYAHT.

“Then one of my students at EYAHT, Rebecca Shore, told her brother that Aish should check me out,” Rabbi Berkovits recalls. “So Rav Noach sent four students to my house every Wednesday night, where we’d talk about topics in Jewish law and philosophy. I believe the group was Raphael Shore, Moshe Pamensky, Aryeh Nivin, and David Baum. That was my first taste of Aish guys, and they were so special. It really whet my appetite.”

Rabbi Berkovits began coming daily to Aish’s yeshiva in Jerusalem’s Old City. “The yeshiva grew in those days like never before,” he says. “Word was out that Aish has the best program in town. We kept needing more and more dorm space. We had groups from England, from South Africa, from across America. The level of learning and level of maturity was awesome. We had great guys coming in, and greater guys going out.”

The crown jewel of Aish’s yeshiva has always been the rabbinic ordination (semicha) program, which has graduated hundreds of Jewish leaders. For this, Rabbi Berkovits innovated a study system he calls “semicha by number,” with daily source sheets that guide students through key pieces of text. “I did this so they’d know a lot without having to read as much information,” he explains. “It was a demanding curriculum and we held the students accountable for what they learned.”

In 2001, after 16 years at Aish, Rabbi Berkovits branched out, founding the highly regarded Jerusalem Kollel to train outreach rabbis – this time from observant backgrounds. “I initially thought this semicha method was appropriate for baalei teshuva,” he says. “But then I realized it could be good for anyone.”

Road Back

When it was suggested several times that he return to Aish, Rabbi Berkovits regarded it as unrealistic. In addition to responsibility for the Jerusalem Kollel and its 200 graduate rabbis, he was head of Congregation Minyan Avreichim in Jerusalem's Sanhedria Murhevet neighborhood, head of the Center for Jewish Values (Linas Hatzedek), and rabbinic advisor to an untold number of Jewish leaders and organizations worldwide.

Who most influenced Rabbi Berkovits’ return to Aish?

“The first is Dick Horowitz,” he says, referring to one of Rabbi Weinberg’s closest partners. “The day I left Aish, Dick told me, 'You are going to return. This is the greatest mistake of your life and you're going to regret it.' Over the years, he never let me forget that.”

A few years ago, after meeting with Dick and Aish Board member Dr. Stuart Hytman, Rabbi Berkovits got a phone call from the revered Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky.

“Rabbi Kamenetsky told me, 'I can't obligate you to do anything. But it's obvious that Aish has to be run by an insider, someone with a direct mesorah (tradition) from Rav Noach.’ At that point I had a responsibility to see if this could work.”

Working closely with Aish CEO Rabbi Steven Burg, Rabbi Berkovits returned to Aish two years ago as Mara D’Asra (halachic authority), a stepping stone to becoming Rosh Yeshiva.

Beloved Leader

What makes Rabbi Berkovits such a beloved leader and role model?

Many cite his ability to clearly size up a situation (e.g., spiritual, family, career), then through his mastery of halacha (Jewish law) to articulate practical advice. And, as befitting an organization like Aish geared largely toward Americans, he does it all with American sensitivity.

On interpersonal matters (bein adam l’chaveiro), Rabbi Berkovits literally wrote the book, producing nine volumes of Torah sources on a variety of situations – e.g., honoring parents, judging others favorably, and giving constructive criticism. His particular expertise is the laws prohibiting Loshon Hara (negative speech), as detailed in his classic, Chofetz Chaim: A Lesson A Day

“Every Jew is responsible to create Kiddush Hashem by acting in a respectable and mature manner,” he says. “The standards of our interpersonal matters should not be any lower than the kashrus standard of our food.”

Rabbi Berkovits’ personal integrity in role-modeling these values – along with a perpetually upbeat tone – resonates with Jews across the spectrum.

Organizational Dreams

What challenges and opportunities now face Aish HaTorah and the Jewish people?

“The math of kiruv has changed,” Rabbi Berkovits explains. “The number of Jews in America today is somewhere between 4 and 8 million. We don't even know who or where the Jews are! Who will stand up and be counted as a Jew? Rav Noach always said that time is running out, and soon we simply won't know who's Jewish. We're almost there. This is probably our last chance.”

Rabbi Berkovits sees his primary responsibility to strengthen the yeshiva. “My priorities are to modify the curriculum and do active recruiting, to attract Ivy League-caliber students,” he says. “Rabbi Dovid Rosman, who’s been running the Beis Medrash, already had this idea and put two rabbis in charge of recruitment.”

Rabbi Berkovits is also enthusiastic about Project Inspire, the program that mobilizes observant Jews to reach out to neighbors and colleagues. “Project Inspire is doing a great job and has to be brought to every Jewish community,” he says of the program that Rabbi Weinberg fought hardest to implement. “There is no question that Project Inspire is ready for its next big stage.”

Rabbi Berkovits admires Aish.com and its impact to reach millions of Jews. He is also committed to recapturing the spirit of innovation that reigned during the days of Rav Noach. “My first order of business is to set up an R&D think tank,” he says. “In the olden days, R&D was always Aish’s strength. The Jewish people looked to us for innovative programming, and we need to get back to that. And I want the R&D group to also include creative, successful educators beyond Aish.”

On September 1, Rosh Chodesh Elul, Rabbi Berkovits will step into his new position with a wealth of perspective from both inside and out. Aish HaTorah is privileged that a Rosh Yeshiva of such high caliber and character is steering the ship, guiding thousands upon thousands toward our precious Jewish destiny.

Aish friends, students and supporters are asked to join in prayer for the success of HaRav Yitzchak Shmuel ben Aryeh Leib HaLevi.

Rabbi Shraga Simmons is the co-founder of Aish.com, and co-author of "48 Ways to Wisdom" (ArtScroll). He is Founder and Director of Aish.com's advanced learning site. He is co-founder of HonestReporting.com, and author of "David & Goliath", the definitive account of anti-Israel media bias. Originally from Buffalo, New York, he holds a degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin, and rabbinic ordination from the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem. He lives with his wife and children in the Modi'in region of Israel.

I really enjoyed the article about Rav Berkowitz becoming the Rosh Yeshiva -- it was great news, and contained a nice compilation of milestones in his life, as well as history of Aish. I"m sure that the institution will flourish under his direction and leadership.

(9)
Aryeh Markman,
August 16, 2019 5:30 PM

Brilliant move

Aish gets it right. Having Rabbi Berkovits as the Rosh Hashiva will catapult the organization.

(8)
Rachel Perman Shillingford,
August 16, 2019 12:52 PM

Rabbi Berkovitz

I was lucky enough to have Rabbi Berkowitz as my teacher for a year in EYAHT. A major talmid chochom and genious with thoughts so methodical; pure brilliance shines through his face, words and actions. I cannot fathom anyone else taking the torch from Rabbi Noach! How lucky we are that Rabbi Berkowitz has undertaken this. Baruch Hashem, with Hashems help Aish will continue to grow, and reach so many neshomas. Hatzlochah! we are lucky!!

(7)
JONATHAN SCHICK,
August 15, 2019 9:14 PM

After Leadership Upheaval, Good news.

The upheavals that have plagued Aish (not at all unique to frum hierarchal institutions) have been bad for Aish and bad for the Jewish world. Sadly these states of affairs could be avoided by intentional strategizing and consensus-building. Yet, this is good news and the win that Aish needed. What's important now is to stay focused and avoid the pitfalls ahead through clarity and truly objective guidance.

(6)
Anonymous,
August 15, 2019 2:21 AM

respect

abbi Berkovits admires Aish.com and its impact to reach millions of Jews. He is also committed to recapturing the spirit of innovation that reigned during the days of Rav Noach. “My first order of business is to set up an R&D think tank,” he says. “ So when will the Orthdox section of Judaism respect Jews who ar Conservative, reconstructnist and reform.? All of them declare their Jewishness and yet disrespect them,call them non jews.Who gives you that right? It is time to respect and embrace all Jews, then we will really know who we are and grow together.

Anonymous,
August 15, 2019 10:27 PM

A non-Jewish movement can have Jewish members

Dear-You conflate Reform Judaism with Reform Jews. Common mistake. Jewish law is clear - anyone born Jewish, or authentically converted, is a Jew, even if they are remiss in their practice, or even belief, in Judaism. This holds true even for Jews who embrace idolatry, atheism, or other religions. Obviously we would not conclude that paganism, atheism, or christianity are "Jewish" movements. Even a movement started entirely by Jews wouldn't change that e.g. "Jews for j."Same is true for the movements you mention. Any movement that does not embrace the Divine nature of the Torah and the - logically following - eternal authority of its laws cannot be honestly be called a Jewish movement.In today's social climate, reality has been divorced from public speech in the name of "political correctness" and "sensitivity." This isn't a new phenomenon, in Stalinist Russia, saying there was nothing to eat was a crime of "libeling" the state, since Stalin had declared that food was plentiful. It didn't change reality then and it won't change it now.Even if some find it uncomfortable.

MESA,
August 16, 2019 1:08 PM

"When will the Orthodox section of Judaism respect Jews who are Conservative, Reconstructionist, and Reform?" The Orthodox section of Judaism does respect non-Orthodox Jews even if there are Jews within that section who don't.

(5)
Nechamah,
August 14, 2019 7:27 PM

What fantastic news

My only connection to Rabbi Berkowitz is listening to his Shiurim and studying his Seforim but I have gained so much from him and I think this will be a wonderful thing for Aish and Klal Yisroel.

(4)
sheila hecker,
August 14, 2019 2:28 PM

Wonderful decision

My husband Harvey Hecker...1st international president ofAish Hatorh will be clapping his hands in approval.He was always in awe ofReb Berkovitz`s ability to give answers to his questions

Aryeh Markman,
August 16, 2019 5:28 PM

How are doing

Sheila, was wondering about the Iron Lady of Toronto.

Yes this is gold.

(3)
MESA,
August 14, 2019 1:59 PM

Challenges and opportunities

One major challenge that Klal Yisrael is facing now is the "Off-The-Derech" issue. There are Jews who are leaving Torah Judaism for a number of reasons that we, as a family and community, must address. In order to reach out to these Jews, we need to re-think kiruv and find new and different ways and means. I would like to see Aish and other kiruv groups rising to this challenge.

(2)
Perel Sherman,
August 14, 2019 1:58 PM

Mazel Tov Cousin

Mazel tov to Rabbi Berkowits. Rabbi Berkowits continues the family tradition of harbatzas Torah/spreading Torah from his great grandfather Rabbi Pinchus Zimmetbaum the dayan/judge of Grosswardein Roumania. His father was my father's cousin. I am so happy Aish - and the Jewish world - will benefit from his wisdom and mesorah.

(1)
Fruma Esther Frost,
August 14, 2019 1:52 PM

Thanks and Bracha

From the early diamond days in Kiryat Sanz and Eyaht I have thanked the Almighty for giving me incredible role models of Torah living. B"H Rabbi Berkovitz has been one of them. From Rabbi Dovid Frost ,myself and our family - Our Bracha to the Rabbi and the Rabbi's family for strength and simcha. We are proud and thankful to be Jews!!!